New Himalayan Lake Raises Flood Fears as Nepal Rescue Continues
Rescuers in Nepal remain on high alert as a newly formed lake, created by a glacial collapse, threatens further flooding.
Rescue operations are continuing in the Himalayan border region between Nepal and China, even as authorities warn that a newly formed and overflowing lake could trigger additional flooding. Security personnel, rescue workers, and the public involved in relief efforts have been instructed to stay on high alert and move to safer ground if needed.
Nepal Police spokesperson Abi Narayan Kafle confirmed that the rescue operation has not stopped, but authorities are proceeding with caution. The warning follows a catastrophic flash flood on Wednesday that caused widespread devastation downstream.
Satellite imagery, including visuals shown by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV, indicates that the new lake has formed in the same area where a glacial detachment event occurred. Nepal's disaster management authority stated that the river has been blocked upstream, creating a growing body of water that could burst and cause a sudden flood.
CCTV reported that the lake's barrier is located more than 10 kilometers from Gyirong Port, the border crossing engulfed by mud and water. The lake sits at an elevation of 2,950 meters, roughly 1,000 meters above the port.
Climate scientists tracking the region say the glacial collapse has left debris scattered across the area, leading to the formation of several small water bodies. Qianggong Zhang of the International Center for Integrated Mountain Development said the newly formed dammed lake has already begun to outflow. It holds a few million cubic meters of water, equivalent to around 1,200 Olympic-sized swimming pools, and is situated in a valley with a limited elevation drop.
Jakob Steiner, a geoscientist at the University of Graz based in Dhaka, noted that high temperatures are causing continued glacial melt, with water accumulating at various points due to debris on the river's path. Both experts stressed that the alerts should be taken seriously, given the risks to rescuers, but added that a flash flood as devastating as Wednesday's is unlikely to recur.